San Francisco, December 12, 2025 – In a major move bridging the gap between Big Tech and the cryptocurrency sector, YouTube has started allowing eligible creators in the United States to receive their platform earnings in PYUSD, PayPal’s dollar-pegged stablecoin.
This integration marks one of the most significant steps toward mainstream crypto adoption in the content monetization space. Notably, the feature was rolled out quietly this week, appearing in the “Payout Settings” of the YouTube Partner Program without a formal press release from Google.
How the New System Works
Eligible creators can now select PYUSD as their preferred disbursement currency, sitting alongside traditional bank transfers and standard PayPal fiat options.
According to May Zabaneh, PayPal’s Head of Cryptocurrency, the process leverages the existing payment infrastructure between the two tech giants. PayPal handles the conversion from U.S. dollars to PYUSD behind the scenes. Crucially, YouTube itself does not take custody of the cryptocurrency or interact directly with the blockchain, keeping the process streamlined and compliant.
A Google spokesperson confirmed the update, stating, “Creator payouts in PayPal’s stablecoin are now supported for eligible U.S. partners.”
Benefits for Creators
For YouTubers, this shift offers potential advantages in speed and flexibility. Earnings from advertising, Super Chats, channel memberships, and merchandise can be settled almost instantly. In many scenarios, transaction costs may be lower than conventional ACH or wire transfers.
Once the funds land in a creator’s account, the PYUSD can be:
Held in a PayPal or Venmo wallet.
Spent at millions of merchants that accept PayPal.
Transferred to external cryptocurrency wallets (such as MetaMask or Ledger).
Strategic Timing and Market Impact
The feature is currently exclusive to the United States, a decision likely driven by the regulatory clarity surrounding stablecoins under U.S. law. PayPal issues PYUSD in partnership with Paxos Trust Company, maintaining 1:1 reserves consisting of U.S. dollars and Treasury bills.
Industry analysts view this as a clear signal of cryptocurrency’s normalization in Silicon Valley. This follows the reported pro-crypto stance of the incoming Trump administration, which has seemingly accelerated enterprise adoption. Earlier this year, Google Cloud also began accepting PYUSD from enterprise clients, hinting at a broader strategy.
Reaction from the Community
The quiet launch sparked immediate discussion on social media. While finance and tech commentators hailed the integration as a milestone for Web3 adoption, others advised caution. Some creators noted the potential for added tax complexity, as the IRS treats cryptocurrency receipts differently than standard income in certain contexts.
Currently, YouTube has not provided a timeline for international expansion, though PayPal has previously expressed ambitions to grow PYUSD’s global footprint.
